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|Articles|November 29, 2011

Odyssey Investment Partners Acquires BarrierSafe Solutions International

Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC announces that it has acquired BarrierSafe Solutions International, Inc., a provider of disposable gloves, from Linden Capital Partners and The Edgewater Funds. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Lake Forest, Ill., BarrierSafe is a player in the $2 billion U.S. disposable protective glove segment of the personal protective equipment industry. The company designs, develops and markets a comprehensive suite of disposable gloves and other related products that serve the needs of users across a diverse range of growing, niche markets that enjoy favorable regulatory and secular tailwinds. Formed in 2004 through the merger of two industry leaders, Microflex and FoodHandler, BarrierSafe today provides in excess of six billion single-use gloves annually.

Odyssey has prior experience in the personal protective equipment industry through its investment in Norcross Safety Products, a leading provider of safety products to the fire, general safety and electric utility end markets.  Norcross was sold to Honeywell International in 2008. Robert Peterson and David Myers, Norcross' former CEO and CFO, respectively, are co-investing with Odyssey and will join the BarrierSafe board of directors.

Randy Paulson, managing principal of Odyssey, says, "We are excited to invest again in the safety sector through BarrierSafe and to partner with the Company's extremely talented management team. We expect to create value for our investors by capitalizing on BarrierSafe's strong market positions and compelling growth opportunities, including acquisitions."

The BarrierSafe management team, led by CEO Mike Mattos and CFO/COO Joe Kubicek, will continue to lead the company under Odyssey's ownership. The management team has invested in BarrierSafe alongside Odyssey.

Debt financing for the transaction will consist of a senior secured facility led by CIT Capital and SunTrust and mezzanine financing provided by Morgan Stanley Credit Partners.

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